The government has stepped up efforts to resolve long-standing challenges facing Tanzania’s road transport sector, targeting multiple levies, cross-border charges and persistent congestion at key entry points.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport said discussions are already underway with Zambia to address road user charges imposed on Tanzanian trucks, while domestic reforms are being considered to streamline fees and improve the business environment for freight operators.
The commitments were outlined during the first Annual General Meeting of the Tanzania Road Freight Association (TRFA) in Dar es Salaam, where industry players raised concerns over rising operational costs and regulatory burdens.
TRFA Chief Executive Officer Hussein Wandwi said the introduction of new road charges in Zambia has significantly increased costs for Tanzanian transporters, weakening their competitiveness in the regional market.
“If our trucks are being charged on the Zambian side, there should be a reciprocal arrangement,” he said, calling for policy consistency to protect local operators.
At home, transporters are also grappling with multiple levies imposed by local government authorities and regulators, including the service levy administered under the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA).
Although the levy was reduced from 0.3 percent to 0.25 percent of quarterly turnover, stakeholders say the cumulative burden remains high.
Wandwi further urged the formalisation of informal transport agents, proposing their registration and integration into the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) system to enhance transparency and boost revenue collection.
Opening the meeting, the Ministry’s Assistant Director for Road Transport, Andrew Magombana, acknowledged the concerns and said bilateral engagements with Zambia had already begun.
“We have taken up the matter with our counterparts to ensure a fair and lasting solution,” he said.
On the long-standing congestion at the Tunduma border, Magombana said joint efforts between Tanzania and Zambia are focused on transforming the crossing into a seamless transit corridor.
Planned improvements, including additional clearance gates, are expected to reduce delays that have long frustrated transporters.
TRFA Vice Chairperson Sophia Caroline Mansoor said sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to unlock the industry’s full potential.
She noted that Tanzania’s strategic position as a regional logistics hub serving several landlocked countries through its ports means that inefficiencies in the transport sector have far-reaching economic implications.
Improving the regulatory framework and easing the cost of doing business, she said, would not only support transporters but also stimulate trade, attract investment and accelerate economic growth.
